Development and devotion to their electorate seems to be the latest mantra for politicians no matter what their stand on the issue has been for the past five years.

Development and devotion to their electorate seems to be the latest mantra for politicians no matter what their stand on the issue has been for the past five years.

Perhaps the Delhi assembly polls revealed the secret of success to many in a city that is increasingly wary of rhetoric and judges its legislators on their work.

Lok Sabha hopefuls across party lines have already started pegging their campaigns around the development works they have undertaken in their capacity as public representatives. For the Congress, the focus of the campaign is clear — they expect the development plank to work in the General Elections, too.

“There will be our achievements at the Centre, interwoven with local issues like regularisation of unauthorised colonies and housing for the urban poor. Implementation of the 6th Pay Commission is also an issue that works both nationally and locally,” said Delhi Congress chief Jai Prakash Aggarwal.

Since Delhi has a good number of government servants, especially in New Delhi parliamentary constituency, sitting MP Ajay Maken counts it as a plus.

“There are a lot of government servants in my constituency and I have pushed a lot for the 6th Pay Commission’s implementation,” said Maken.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, too, seems to have realised from their debacle in assembly polls that a negative campaign does not always work. Prominent Delhi BJP leaders like MCD standing committee chief Vijender Gupta and former MP Vijay Goel are already in campaign mode – highlighting the work they have undertaken in the city.

While Gupta’s slogan is ‘Kaam Hi Pehchaan Hai(if there is work, there is identity)’, posters eulogising Goel call him the only neta jo Dilli ke vikas ke liye kucch kar sakta hai (the only leader who can do something for Delhi’s development.

“You judge me by my work I have done as a Lok Sabha member. I am a visionary, I am a developer and I am a fighter,” said Goel, adding he was responsible for rooting out lottery cartels in Delhi. “I was jailed during sealing action (by MCD),” said Goel.

When asked what his USP was, Gupta also pointed to his list of achievements. “My work is my main message. Even my hoardings say so,” said Gupta.